Fire-escape



(No ModeL) R. ASHIELL.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Oct. 4, 1881.

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFF CE.

RUDOLPHUS S. DASHIELL, OF GREENSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,801, dated October4, 1881. Application filed February 14,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUDoLPHUs S. DA- SHIELL,of Greensborough, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina.have invented certain Improvements in Fii'eFsc'apes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of fire-escapes which constitute inpart permanent fixtures upon the building, and has for its objects topermit access to any portion of the building, to prevent theapparatusfroin becoming inoperative should portions of the wallsgiveaway,

and to secure absolute and-efficient control of the apparatus.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plain diagram, illustrating the mode ofsecuring the supports to the building. Fig. 2 is a perspective View,showing the building with the device both in and out of use. Fig.3 is anend view of the truck.

Heretofore in securing to buildings the sup-' ports used for fire-escapeappliances it has been common to attach supporting-brackets to the wallsof the buildings. If, therefore, any portion of the wall gives way, itcarries the brackets with it and destroys the means of escape. Toprevent this result I form the projecting supports or brackets a asparts of a frame connected and extending completely across the building,near the top. For instance, the frame may consist of the cross-bars A A,extending diagonally through the building, and, if necessary, tied orbraced together in any suitable manner.

To the projecting ends a of these bars are connected wire ropes or. rodsd, upon which run double blocks D, wire ropes e passing round the lowersheaves, and when not in use being secured to cleats f, arranged at suchdistance from the groundas to be accessible by a ladder. Other ropes,'i, may extend from each block to eyes or pulleys on the brackets andhung down, so as to permit a person on the ground to pull the block ineither direction. In connection with these devices I use a truck, H,carrying a Windlass, I, provided with a handle, pawl and ratchet, andwith a brake device, J. When a fire breaks out the ropes c are detachedfrom the cleats f, and one end of the rope may be drawn by hand, or itmay be attached to the Windlass I, and the other end to a basket, hose,or other object to be elevated. The block D is then drawn to one side bythe ropes c or 1' until it is vertically above the windows to bereached, and the rope is then pulled by the Windlass or by hand eitherto draw up the basket or hose, lower the same, or run it to the right orleft, as may be necessary.

By the use of the truck and Windlass all danger resulting from carelessor inefficient handling is avoided, steady yetrapid movements aresecured, and the parts maintained in proper relative position.

To secure greater steadiness the truck may be loaded, and for the samepurpose it may be provided with extensible arms m, which may be turnedor carried outward to afl'ord a wide bearing when in use, and may bemade of the L shape shown, so that when turned inward the legs 1" willconstitute standards between which to arrange andhold ladders,hooks,baskets, and other articles.

It is proposed to have one block arranged permanently upon each rope orway d. Other blocks constructed to be applied temporarily may be used inaddition.

I provide the Walls of the buildings above or below the windows withstaples or brackets n, to which the ends of horizontal or vertical ropesor other appliances may be temporarily secured, if necessary, by aperson raised with the basket by means of the rope c, as described.

It will be apparent that Where a person cannot descend directly from oneportion of the building the block can be carried to another portion bypulling on the rope e or z", and that should a portion of one of thewalls fall the frame will support the brackets a, still permitting themeans of escape to be employed. The fireman can thus pass along theentire front of the building, even after a portion of the walls havefallen.

I claim-- 1. In combination with the building, a metallic frame arrangedwithin the same, extending across and having ends projecting beyond thesides of the building, said ends supporting fire-escape appliances,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame A, project ing from the corners of thebuilding, ropes or I In testimony whereofI have signed my name rods d,supported thereby, and blocks and ropes, 1 to this specification in thepresence of two subas set forth. scribing witnesses.

The combination, with the truck and its RUDOLPHUS S. DASHIELL. 5windlass,of extensible arms 122, having the legs Witnesses:

1 at right angles to the arms, and arranged to be W. D. TROTTER,

folded upon the top of the truck, as set forth. A. P. ECKELS.

